Lamar runner remembers Olympic father

Avi Zaleo, Beaumont Enterprise

By Avi Zaleon

Published 7:49 pm, Saturday, January 25, 2014

Lamar University cross country runner Aaron Bennet from Southampton, England recently competed in the Texas A&M 12-Team Invitational where he placed first in the 800m run. Michael Rivera/@michaelrivera88

Lamar University cross country runner Aaron Bennet from...

Lamar University cross country runner Aaron Bennet from Southampton, England talks to a reporter about his win at the Texas A&M 12-Team Invitational Tuesday. Michael Rivera/@michaelrivera88

Lamar University cross country runner Aaron Bennet from...

Lamar University cross country runner Aaron Bennet from Southampton, England talks to a reporter about his win at the Texas A&M 12-Team Invitational Tuesday. Michael Rivera/@michaelrivera88

Lamar University cross country runner Aaron Bennet from...

Lamar University cross country runner Aaron Bennet from Southampton, England recently competed in the Texas A&M 12-Team Invitational where he placed first in the 800m run. Michael Rivera/@michaelrivera88

Lamar University cross country runner Aaron Bennet from...

Lamar University cross country runner Aaron Bennet from Southampton, England recently competed in the Texas A&M 12-Team Invitational where he placed first in the 800m run. Michael Rivera/@michaelrivera88

Lamar University cross country runner Aaron Bennet from...

Lamar University cross country runner Aaron Bennet from Southampton, England recently competed in the Texas A&M 12-Team Invitational where he placed first in the 800m run. Michael Rivera/@michaelrivera88

Lamar University cross country runner Aaron Bennet from...

Lamar University cross country runner Aaron Bennet from Southampton, England recently competed in the Texas A&M 12-Team Invitational where he placed first in the 800m run. Michael Rivera/@michaelrivera88

Lamar University cross country runner Aaron Bennet from...

Aaron Bennett finished first for Lamar during theTexas A&M 12-Team Invitational 800m. As Bennett walked crossed the finish line, he pointed to the sky in honor of his dad, who was an Olympic silver medalist for England in the 80s.
Photo courtesy of Patric Schneider

Aaron Bennett finished first for Lamar during theTexas A&M 12-Team...

Aaron Bennett finished first for Lamar during theTexas A&M 12-Team Invitational 800m. As Bennett walked crossed the finish line, he pointed to the sky in honor of his dad, who was an Olympic silver medalist for England in the 80s.
Photo courtesy of Patric Schneider

Aaron Bennett finished first for Lamar during theTexas A&M 12-Team...

Aaron Bennett finished first for Lamar during theTexas A&M 12-Team Invitational 800m. As Bennett walked crossed the finish line, he pointed to the sky in honor of his dad, who was an Olympic silver medalist for England in the 80s.
Photo courtesy of Patric Schneider

Todd's body, lying in bed, was hardly recognizable. The bulbous thighs and muscular arms that carried him to an Olympic medal and world record were ravaged by cancer.

"It was tough to see a body deteriorate like that over six months," Aaron said.

Todd could no longer speak, which is not to say that he didn't want to. Instead, on this night in July, the night before he died, Todd extended his hand and held Aaron's long enough so it could do the talking.

"I realized later that maybe that was him saying goodbye," Aaron said.

With his family at his bedside, Todd died at 51 on July 16. Six months and a day later in College Station, his son crossed the finish line, smiled and pointed to the sky.

"I've taken his mentality with me," said Aaron, a Lamar graduate student on the track team. "You got to take what life throws at you. A couple weeks before he passed away he said, 'life's not fair, son. You just have to make the most of every opportunity you get.' That's why he wanted me to come out here."